Churchianity vs Christianity
Biblical Christianity's fallen on hard times. Serious and even semi scholarly Bible study is in decline. The average Christians can't quote ten verses in a row, much less interpret them accurately. Regular and lengthy prayer is passé. Christian today stop and pray only a few minutes a day, with perhaps one in a thousand attending a weekly prayer meeting. The security of seeking and serving God have been replaced by risky worldliness, and if not too inconvenient a weekly intermission for church. Sound study of God's word's been exchanged for sentimentality. Worship for choruses. Godly fear for feeling good. This raises the question, how much ancient Christianity is there in modern Churchianity?
Quantum Thinking
Upon close inspection things are rarely, if ever, as they seem. For example, with all the blessings the modern world's been given it's as if we've received the answers to the prayers of all past generations. Such unprecedented wealth and technology strongly suggests these are the best of times. Yet from a spiritual stand point, the opposite is more likely. Levels of temptation, and those falling prey to them, are way off the charts. Such a dichotomy begs the question, is it the best or worst of times?
The answer is both, but unfortunately not in a good way. In the last generation or two mankind has made such strides that technology provides billions of us lifestyles that in many ways rival and excel the capabilities of ancient kings. Yet at the same time we allow billions to starve, live in poverty and be ravished by war. Such suffering continues not because we haven't the resource to end the misery, but because we lavish the wealth on ourselves in a hundred different ways. Even destructive ones, like spending nearly half a trillion dollars annually on illegal drugs. Such funds alone could turn Earthly purgatories into paradise. As for Churchiantiy, America spends more on Christmas wrapping paper than we do in evangelizing the world for Christ.
Jesus once told a seeker "the time is coming, indeed it's here now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is a Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." To hope to accurately access our current situation, much less worship God, one must learn to handle the truth. Not just bits and pieces we like or agree with but the whole truth and nothing but. Doing so means stretching and developing our minds as suggested by the famous author T.S. Elliot, "the test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to function while keeping two opposing thoughts in mind." What's needed today is the ability and willingness to grasp the big picture, even when it's complicated. A kind of quantum thinking or Quantum Christianity. The tenants of Quantum Christianity allow for the existence of complexities while providing the necessary tools to investigate further.
Judging with Righteous Judgment
Case in point is the idea of exercising judgment, something Western Christianity continues to distance itself from. Within the last one or two generations, the core Biblical message of recognizing and standing against deceptive evil has been eclipsed by tolerance. Today, direct and indirect teachings on God's unconditional love and acceptance have replaced millennia of emphasis on God's commands and even Christ's explanation of salvation. Sadly, scripture's misapplied to defend "politically correct theology." After all, Jesus did say:
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." Matthew 7:1-2
At a glance Jesus seems to be preaching tolerance with open arms. Yet, using a few rules of Biblical interpretation, such as context and unity, suggests there's more to the story. Understanding scripture requires studying a topic beyond a single verse or two. Later in the same chapter Jesus goes on to explain:
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Matthew 7:24
The words judge and judgment are used nearly two hundred times in the New Testament alone. In this, as in many passages, we learn it's not the act of judging but the quality of judgment Christ warns of. Another scriptural concern is the difference of practicing discernment and passing condemnation. There is also the question of scope. A single epistle drives home the point that it's our own behavior, and that of fellow believers, Christians are to scrutinize:
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:14-16
"I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:11-13
"If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:1-9
"But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment." 1 Corinthians 11:31
Heaven and Hell lie in Thinking Well
Failure to exercise spiritual discernment and moral judgment are defining characteristics of Churchianity. Beautifully adorned in the garbs of Christianity, Churchianity's claims of adherence to New Testament theology's eclipsed by poor doctrine and even worse behavior. So much so that scripture's haunting lament, "My people parish for lack of knowledge" reaches it's zenith in our final church age, a modern "Laodicea:"
"Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God's Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God's creation, says: 'I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless. "Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see. 'The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! 'Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors! 'Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.'" Revelation 3:14-22 The Message
Far from teaching the modern doctrine of eternal security, Jesus demands the church of Laodicea repent from it's self deception or be vomited out of the body of Christ. Believers in Sardis are also warned that all without living faith, those defiling themselves while claiming to be alive in Christ, faced their names being blotted out the Book of Life. Yet, comparatively speaking, what did these know of sin? We're the ones who've aborted over a billion babies while in the womb of their mothers! We're the ones producing hundreds of pornographic videos a day, beaming them by satellite from the heavens into homes around the world! It's our families and friends paying billions of dollars a year to watch horror and gore movies and then to re-watch them on pay per view. Truth be told, our modern lifestyles in First World Nation might well make Laodicean's blush.
Churchianity's Reflection
No one wants to be labeled Chicken Little, even if the sky is falling. This goes double for Christians. We believe, and occasionally get around to preaching the "Good News!" Our Saviors not a "cups half empty" kind of Guy. Why should we worry when we've not been given a spirit of fear? Sure there's problems, maybe even big ones, but God's salvation and love is free and unconditional. There may be a lot of sin in the church, maybe even in my life, but God's faithful and merciful even if I'm not. So what if folks are falling like flies to temptation and deception. I don't let it rain on my parade. Even if the world's going to Hell in a hand-basket, just keep your Pre-Trib Rapture card punched and you're headed for Heaven before Tribulation starts...
Our apathy and actions reveal such attitudes are common in Western Christianity. Yet scripture's mandate remains clear. Jesus identifies the Church as "the light of the world." He calls us to be a "city on a hill" shinning all the brighter in the gathering darkness. Christ declares Christians are the salt of the Earth, strictly warning against the Church loosing its savor, "how then will it be salted again? It is good for nothing, not even the dug heap, only to be thrown out and trampled under the foot of men." According to the Gospel, we're the only salt and light society gets. If the world's rotting and filled with darkness we only need to look in the mirror to explain why:
"Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in a mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God, even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or women of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action." James 1:22-25 The Message
Indications are that the First World has entered a post Christian era. Sadly Churchianity's chosen to follow the secular world's lead rather than lead the world to Christ. Tempted by prosperity and pleasure, statistically there's now little if any difference between believers and our counterparts. From sexual promiscuity and abortion to pornography and addiction we're nearly one in the same. In a single generation Christian virtue's been turned on it's head. For example, today seventy percent of couples live together before marriage, with nearly half of marriages ending in divorce. Inside and outside the church morality continues its sharp decline.
"Well Done" or "What have You Done?"
Alarmingly, the Bible provides innumerable passages and examples that great judgment follows on the heals of great sin such as "God's not mocked" and "Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind." The good news is that scripture declares God takes "no pleasure in the death of the wicked" and "is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth, repentance and salvation." Even so, God's patience and kindness is "meant to lead us to repentance." Eventually His justice demands commensurate judgment against rebellion wherever it exists:
"For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News? And also, 'If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?" 1 Peter 4:17-18
Tragically, Christ's description of the end time church seems a perfect fit with modern Churchianity. Jesus warned even those who called Him "Lord, Lord" or prophesied and performed miracles in His name would still be rejected if they broke God's laws. Jesus predicted that in the last days the kingdom of God would be comprised of Ten Virgins, "five foolish and five wise." According to the math, half the Church may be counting on the Bible's 1,260 promises while disregarding some or all of it's 6,468 commands.
Making matters worse indications are that humanity is facing a time of terrible suffering and global destruction. The geo-political stage is set for the Great Tribulation prophesied by the Bible's Book of Revelation. Written millennia ago by a Jewish fishermen who know less about the world than a modern elementary school student, key elements of John's predictions have and continue to move into place in ways unprecedented in human history.
Our generation's the first to have the science and technology necessary to comprehend Revelation's events. Ironically, we're also the most Biblically apathetic and illiterate society in the last few hundred years. The majority of Christians are blissfully unaware or unconcerned that Armageddon draws nearer every day. Rather than study the amazing accuracy of fulfilled prophecy, much less the unfolding prophetic witness provided by the Book of Revelation, Churchianity hangs its hopes on a Pre-Tribulation Rapture Timeline opposed by the teachings of Christ, Paul and John.
For these reason and more, Churchianity is in for a rude awaking. From a Biblical perspective, many of it's major tenants are fatally flawed, a problem second only to it's historic the levels of apathy and sin. Still, true Christians should be waiting on the Lord and even wrestling with God that all our eyes might be fully opened to the spiritual realities around us. Let those who are anointed by the Lord throw off deception. May we become prophetic Christians, repenting deeply for the sake of our deceived brothers and ourselves. May we learn to rightly approach the Almighty, proving "what is the good and acceptable will of the Lord." May we bridge the apparent silence and distance of the God by persevering in prayer, refusing to take no for an answer as we cry out that God should soften our hard hearts and "lead us not into temptation and deliver us from the Evil One."
God Blog longs that all people everywhere should hear the Lord say, "Well done My good and faithful servant." Unfortunately, given the global holocaust and mega sin of abortion alone, not to mention a mountain of mounting sins, billions today are more likely to hear, What have you done, the innocent blood of a billion of your babies cries to Me from the earth." With Heaven to gain and Hell to loose, we join with the countless company of Christians down through the centuries in echoing the great prayer of the Apostle Paul. God have mercy. Christ have mercy...
"When I think of all this,
I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,
the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources
he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.
Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand,
as all God’s people should,
how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
May you experience the love of Christ,
though it is too great to understand fully.
Then you will be made complete
with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able,
through his mighty power at work within us,
to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus
through all generations
forever and ever!
Amen."
Ephesians 3:14-21 The Message
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